2011-12 Development Academy Finals Week in Focus: U-15/16 D.C. United

D.C. United saved its best for last on the final day of the Academy Playoffs, scoring a whopping four second-half goals against the Colorado Rush and
advancing to Finals Week in Houston.

How they got to Finals Week:
D.C. United put itself in good position to advance heading into the final day of competition at the Academy Playoffs. With a 3-1 win against Concorde Fire
and a well-fought 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy, D.C. United closed out the playoffs with a 4-2 win against the Colorado Rush.

Finals Week and Academy Playoffs History:
This year marked the third consecutive trip to the playoffs for D.C. United. The club’s good run of form in the Playoffs saw the team through to its second
trip to Finals Week. D.C. United last went to Finals Week in 2009-10.

2011-12 Regular Season:
D.C. United was able to stave off four other teams gunning for the top spot in the Mid-Atlantic Division. Back-to-back wins to end the regular season with
a 6-2-4 record was enough to ensure the team clinched first place in the division.

About head coach Thomas Torres:
A longtime coaching veteran, Torres has spent the past 18 years coaching soccer in Virginia. He has coached Arlington Travel’s Elite level teams and has
been involved with building one of the strongest high school soccer programs in Virginia as head coach of Westfield High School. Torres has spent the last
two years as head coach of the Northern Virginia Royals USL PDL team. A soccer player growing up in the Washington, D.C., area, Torres won several youth
state cups and accolades throughout high school. He graduated from Radford University where he played soccer.

About D.C. United:
Created in 2007, D.C. United Academy alumni include Homegrown signings Andy Najar, Bill Hamid, Conor Shanosky and Ethan White. Both Najar and Hamid have
become mainstays for D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen’s squad while White appeared in 24 matches for D.C. last season.

Inside the Numbers:
During Mid-Atlantic Division play, D.C. United allowed only six goals in 12 games … The club posted a 0-3-0 record against the Finals Week field during the
regular season – two losses to PA Classics and a loss against the New York Red Bulls.

Did you know …
Former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder and National Soccer Hall of Famer John Harkes’ son, Ian, plays for the D.C. United U-15/16 side … Former D.C.
United and Bolivian international forward Jaime Moreno’s son James played the 2011-12 season with the D.C. United U-15/16 club … U-15/16 Academy player
Cristhyan Najar is the younger brother of D.C. United midfielder Andy Najar.